Enrollment: How will enrollment impact school funding? Sun Sentinel. More students plan to return to campus in Palm Beach County next week. WPTV.
Coronavirus: Hundreds of students at three Miami-Dade schools are now in quarantine. Miami Herald. WSVN. Another five dozen people are in quarantine in Manatee County Schools. Bradenton Herald. Orange County Schools reported its highest single day coronavirus infections this week at 26. WKMG. Fletcher High School in Duval County reopened after being closed due to a coronavirus outbreak. WJXT. Bonita Elementary School in Lee County closes for a 14-day quarantine. Fort Myers News Press. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ order allowing schools to offer online and in-person learning options ends on Jan. 8. Will schools be required to be fully open next semester? Sun Sentinel.
School grades: Seminole County schools superintendent Walt Griffin wants Florida to scrap the school A-F grading system for the year due to the coronavirus. Orlando Sentinel.
Free meals: Pinellas County Public Schools will be taking advantage of the USDA’s Free School Meals Program. All students under the age of 18 will be offered a free meal through the rest of this year. WFTS.
Education school: The Pinellas County School Board adopted a resolution showing concern over the University of South Florida closing its undergraduate teacher college. WFLA.
New schools: Escambia County School District eyes a 25-acre property as a future site to build a school. Pensacola News-Journal.
Opinion: Jonathan Schuster says the latest CDC study on excess death by age groups shows a large increase in deaths among youths. Schuster says this is proof young people are in danger of the coronavirus and should take precautions. (Note: while youth should take precautions, the CDC study does not attribute the excess deaths among young people directly to the coronavirus. For example, some of the excess deaths may be indirectly related to coronavirus such as an increase in suicides or drug overdoses by young adults who have been negatively impacted by lockdowns). Gainesville Sun. The Nation’s Report Card has released new data, and the results aren’t pretty. One takeaway: the U.S. is spending more, but getting less out of K-12 education. redefinED.
